Callie J. Smith

author

Tag: family

Encountering Strangers and “The Interruption: A Short Story”

Jun 6, 2026

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by

Callie J. Smith

in short fiction

I never know what will come from sitting down with a friend, let alone from encountering a stranger. People invariably surprise me. Any given moment may turn out to be a fight or a dance, an inconvenience or a gift. Some moments may be all of the above, and how I think through that complexity…
Join Me in Celebrating Publication Day

Apr 4, 2026

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by

Callie J. Smith

in spirituality and creativity

Kohelette: A Novel came out this past Wednesday. I’m beyond thrilled! Advance readers may have had the novel for a while already, but I’ve still relished sending it out into the world more broadly, first with a recent excerpt appearing in The Polk Street Review 2026 and now with this past week’s publication. There may…
What We Are To Each Other Sticks: On Kohelette and the Power of Memories

Mar 1, 2026

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by

Callie J. Smith

in grief and memory, spirituality and creativity

What we are to each other doesn’t go away. Our people don’t go away. And that changes everything.
On Truth in Fiction and “Wicherek Way: A Short Story”

Feb 7, 2026

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by

Callie J. Smith

in hope and imagination, short fiction

“For better or for worse, she’d never given any hint of discomfort when her dreams had to face reality.” – from “Wicherek Way,” a short story from the world of the forthcoming novel Kohelette I wouldn’t say my fiction is autobiographical, but I do find myself drawing on bits of real-life experience to ground my…
Holiday Baking: A Gingerbread Legacy

Dec 3, 2025

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by

Callie J. Smith

in grief and memory

I know there’s more to the holidays than baking, but baking is simply one of those things my family does this time of year. It’s a ritual, a practice, an experience playing out over time that builds layers of memory and meaning. Even if I weren’t baking for holiday gatherings or for gifts, I’d still…
Yarns and Yams: On Enjoying What My Loved Ones Enjoy

Nov 6, 2025

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by

Callie J. Smith

in grief and memory, spirituality and creativity

“I’m trusting that these shared meals are accomplishing, or may yet accomplish, something with good in it. Perhaps, at the very least, they’re a start.” – from “Yarns and Yams” Now that we’ve reached the month when many families in the US gather for Thanksgiving meals, I’m sharing this reflection I wrote earlier in the…

About the author

Callie J. Smith writes about women who, like her, are finding themselves. Her stories and essays explore everyday things like hope, creativity, and grief.